Glitz, glamour, diamonds, emeralds, full ball gowns, tuxedos with tails and pure Hollywood themed the Wortham Theater as Margaret Alkek Williams was honored for her extraordinary philanthropic work with UNICEF. Margaret will be the first person in the U.S. to receive the Audrey Hepburn Society Philanthropist of the Year Award in recognition for her induction into the Audrey Circle, the highest level of this Society, with her extraordinarily generous support of the UNICEF and Baylor International Pediatrics AIDS Initiative partnership.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. Together, they are working toward the day when ZERO children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.

“Desperate Housewives” and “Dallas” star, Jesse Metcalfe served as emcee for the evening, which included performances by the Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera, who performed an A cappella version of “Moon River” from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn’s signature movie.

Joanne King Herring served as honorary chair and the gala raised more than $650,000 for UNICEF.